Juana Garcia/The Cougar

The student body rejected the Student Governments Association’s new constitution not just once, but twice. Many students disagreed with not only the draft itself, but the administration and SGA leaders behind it. 

Communication, transparency

The constitution largely overstepped its bounds and had a lack of transparency, said English sophomore Christopher Hooper.  

“To keep students out of the loop was a big slap in the face to me,” Hooper said. “These are important issues and if students don’t know about them, then we don’t get the opportunity to change what we want.”

Administration, SGA leadership

Former senator Jesus Nieto blames administration for the downfall of  SGA because he claims their main goal was to take over and do whatever they needed to get what they wanted.

According to Nieto, SGA was being pushed around in secret meetings, thrown into rooms and borderline threatened. The administration has destroyed the organization and ignored what students want.

“We have all had enough of the UH administration pushing students around,” Nieto said. “We are paying members of this institution. We do have the right to push back and say ‘hey, what’s happening is not right.’”

For Nieto, The results of the election showed that the student body stood up for themselves and told SGA leadership and administration not to mess with student representation.

“I know this organization can do good things,” Nieto said. “However, it’s the people that are in the position of power that determine why either the organization is successful or not. This year, the people in power were cowards and they were probably scared.”

Student impacts 

Deeds Not Words, a UH student organization that aims for various social justice issues, became a main advocate in rejecting the document.

They claimed the new constitution this would destroy checks and balances, remove Senate authority to draft bills for student funding, create more bureaucracy and strip senators of their right to draft and modify the SGA budget.

“This constitution is a gross overstepping of UH administrations and SGA executive branch members to undermine fair representation for the student body,” DNW said in an Instagram post. 

Nieto, who worked alongside DNW during the campaign, urges students to become more engaged in light of nationwide school funding cuts.

Since this would affect jobs and various opportunities, SGA acts as a vehicle to prevent, or at least mitigate, widespread cuts. 

“This is one incident where we really need the student body to not allow administrators to come in and take over,” Nieto said. “That’s exactly what they’re going to do with every situation coming forward.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Here’s why the student body rejected SGA’s new constitution” was originally posted on The Cougar

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

The student body rejected the Student Governments Association’s new constitution not just once, but twice. Many students disagreed with not only the draft itself, but the administration and SGA leaders behind it. 

Communication, transparency

The constitution largely overstepped its bounds and had a lack of transparency, said English sophomore Christopher Hooper.  

“To keep students out of the loop was a big slap in the face to me,” Hooper said. “These are important issues and if students don’t know about them, then we don’t get the opportunity to change what we want.”

Administration, SGA leadership

Former senator Jesus Nieto blames administration for the downfall of  SGA because he claims their main goal was to take over and do whatever they needed to get what they wanted.

According to Nieto, SGA was being pushed around in secret meetings, thrown into rooms and borderline threatened. The administration has destroyed the organization and ignored what students want.

“We have all had enough of the UH administration pushing students around,” Nieto said. “We are paying members of this institution. We do have the right to push back and say ‘hey, what’s happening is not right.’”

For Nieto, The results of the election showed that the student body stood up for themselves and told SGA leadership and administration not to mess with student representation.

“I know this organization can do good things,” Nieto said. “However, it’s the people that are in the position of power that determine why either the organization is successful or not. This year, the people in power were cowards and they were probably scared.”

Student impacts 

Deeds Not Words, a UH student organization that aims for various social justice issues, became a main advocate in rejecting the document.

They claimed the new constitution this would destroy checks and balances, remove Senate authority to draft bills for student funding, create more bureaucracy and strip senators of their right to draft and modify the SGA budget.

“This constitution is a gross overstepping of UH administrations and SGA executive branch members to undermine fair representation for the student body,” DNW said in an Instagram post. 

Nieto, who worked alongside DNW during the campaign, urges students to become more engaged in light of nationwide school funding cuts.

Since this would affect jobs and various opportunities, SGA acts as a vehicle to prevent, or at least mitigate, widespread cuts. 

“This is one incident where we really need the student body to not allow administrators to come in and take over,” Nieto said. “That’s exactly what they’re going to do with every situation coming forward.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Here’s why the student body rejected SGA’s new constitution” was originally posted on The Cougar

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

The student body rejected the Student Governments Association’s new constitution not just once, but twice. Many students disagreed with not only the draft itself, but the administration and SGA leaders behind it. 

Communication, transparency

The constitution largely overstepped its bounds and had a lack of transparency, said English sophomore Christopher Hooper.  

“To keep students out of the loop was a big slap in the face to me,” Hooper said. “These are important issues and if students don’t know about them, then we don’t get the opportunity to change what we want.”

Administration, SGA leadership

Former senator Jesus Nieto blames administration for the downfall of  SGA because he claims their main goal was to take over and do whatever they needed to get what they wanted.

According to Nieto, SGA was being pushed around in secret meetings, thrown into rooms and borderline threatened. The administration has destroyed the organization and ignored what students want.

“We have all had enough of the UH administration pushing students around,” Nieto said. “We are paying members of this institution. We do have the right to push back and say ‘hey, what’s happening is not right.’”

For Nieto, The results of the election showed that the student body stood up for themselves and told SGA leadership and administration not to mess with student representation.

“I know this organization can do good things,” Nieto said. “However, it’s the people that are in the position of power that determine why either the organization is successful or not. This year, the people in power were cowards and they were probably scared.”

Student impacts 

Deeds Not Words, a UH student organization that aims for various social justice issues, became a main advocate in rejecting the document.

They claimed the new constitution this would destroy checks and balances, remove Senate authority to draft bills for student funding, create more bureaucracy and strip senators of their right to draft and modify the SGA budget.

“This constitution is a gross overstepping of UH administrations and SGA executive branch members to undermine fair representation for the student body,” DNW said in an Instagram post. 

Nieto, who worked alongside DNW during the campaign, urges students to become more engaged in light of nationwide school funding cuts.

Since this would affect jobs and various opportunities, SGA acts as a vehicle to prevent, or at least mitigate, widespread cuts. 

“This is one incident where we really need the student body to not allow administrators to come in and take over,” Nieto said. “That’s exactly what they’re going to do with every situation coming forward.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Here’s why the student body rejected SGA’s new constitution” was originally posted on The Cougar

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

The student body rejected the Student Governments Association’s new constitution not just once, but twice. Many students disagreed with not only the draft itself, but the administration and SGA leaders behind it. 

Communication, transparency

The constitution largely overstepped its bounds and had a lack of transparency, said English sophomore Christopher Hooper.  

“To keep students out of the loop was a big slap in the face to me,” Hooper said. “These are important issues and if students don’t know about them, then we don’t get the opportunity to change what we want.”

Administration, SGA leadership

Former senator Jesus Nieto blames administration for the downfall of  SGA because he claims their main goal was to take over and do whatever they needed to get what they wanted.

According to Nieto, SGA was being pushed around in secret meetings, thrown into rooms and borderline threatened. The administration has destroyed the organization and ignored what students want.

“We have all had enough of the UH administration pushing students around,” Nieto said. “We are paying members of this institution. We do have the right to push back and say ‘hey, what’s happening is not right.’”

For Nieto, The results of the election showed that the student body stood up for themselves and told SGA leadership and administration not to mess with student representation.

“I know this organization can do good things,” Nieto said. “However, it’s the people that are in the position of power that determine why either the organization is successful or not. This year, the people in power were cowards and they were probably scared.”

Student impacts 

Deeds Not Words, a UH student organization that aims for various social justice issues, became a main advocate in rejecting the document.

They claimed the new constitution this would destroy checks and balances, remove Senate authority to draft bills for student funding, create more bureaucracy and strip senators of their right to draft and modify the SGA budget.

“This constitution is a gross overstepping of UH administrations and SGA executive branch members to undermine fair representation for the student body,” DNW said in an Instagram post. 

Nieto, who worked alongside DNW during the campaign, urges students to become more engaged in light of nationwide school funding cuts.

Since this would affect jobs and various opportunities, SGA acts as a vehicle to prevent, or at least mitigate, widespread cuts. 

“This is one incident where we really need the student body to not allow administrators to come in and take over,” Nieto said. “That’s exactly what they’re going to do with every situation coming forward.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Here’s why the student body rejected SGA’s new constitution” was originally posted on The Cougar

Lily Huynh/The Cougar

The White House said on  Feb. 25 it will determine which news outlets will have access to President Donald Trump. 

Selected outlets will be part of a rotating press pool for events and meetings that cannot accommodate the full press corporations, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The move comes as the White House says it wants to get rid of the monopoly within the White House Correspondents Association as it plans to add representatives who have been denied access to the daily groupings of journalists and more outlets who are well suited to cover the news of the day.  

Traditional news services like The Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters will no longer have a permanent spot in every pool. Bloomberg and Reuters will alternate in a single slot. The AP will remain blocked over the organization’s refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Legacy media outlets like ABC News, CBS news, CNN, Fox News and NBC News would continue to be part of the current daily television rotation, according to Leavitt.

“This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States,” said President of the WHCA Eugene Daniels. “It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president.  In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps.”

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press called it a drastic change in how the public gets information about its government. 

Campus reactions

UH Professor of Practice Geoffrey Roth was not surprised by the announcement citing the relationship between Trump and traditional media was not great to begin with. 

Roth said that in his career he has never seen anything like the current climate. There have always been conflicting sides of politicians and journalists Roth said, but there was still a respectable relationship that now appears to be eroding.

“It’s still disconcerting that the president of the United States would do something like that,” Roth said. “But it didn’t surprise me that he did it.”

Concern about the level of cooperation between Republicans and the three branches of government is shared by students like public policy sophomore Joshua Sambrano, who said the system currently has no checks and balances.

Sambrano said that when the president chooses the press, he is essentially picking his letters of recommendation. This, he said, could prevent necessary stories from being told and lead citizens to act on flawed information given from a misrepresentation of government. 

“So when he gets to pick his press, it very well makes the argument that not only are the powers of the president being overstepped,” Sambrano said. “The Congress, the Justice Department and the judicial branch are failing to reel him in.”

Journalism senior Mackenzie Sills finds her main concern to be censorship and not being able to give the public the truth.

She finds articles and courses are going to have even more political bias. Trump will want people to cover him in his favor and write information in his favor. 

“When it comes to holding people of high authority accountable, that’s a really scary thing to have taken away from our society,” Sills said. “One of the foundations of journalism is holding people in power accountable.”

First Amendment Concerns 

Sambrano raised the concern of why people should fear this blatant disregard for the First Amendment, emphasizing that the press has historically been a beacon for information and to criticize government powers.

He also said that the removal of data from government sites, used by both opposing political sides, goes to show that there is an intent to mitigate any bad narratives against the administration. 

“The intent to manipulate the press pool, gatekeep information and take down information that is critically necessary for the continuation of effective policy,” said Sambrano. “It not only leads to people who don’t tie with Trump being misrepresented. It leaves them not being represented in data at all when it comes to the government data-keeping.”

Roth said this concerns him, especially when Trump tries to punish the AP for not calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. 

“It’s one thing to disagree with journalists,” Roth said. “It’s another thing to actively try to exclude them from coverage because he disagrees with the language they’re using.”

Roth said the president is trying to incorporate organizations that pretend to be news organizations. It is having a degrading effect on all of journalism in terms of covering the White House and the presidency. 

“Trump is making it more difficult for legitimate journalists to do their job while he’s giving access to people I wouldn’t consider to be real journalists,” said Roth. “They’re more rhetoric machines and bothersome when he does something like that.”

Roth said that this does not stop journalists from doing their job, but it’s all an attempt to make traditional journalism organizations’ lives more difficult. 

Future of Journalism 

This announcement has led Sills to question her interest in covering politics. 

In the past, her goal was to cover politics but she does not feel comfortable making it her expertise due to possible repercussions. Sills does not want to choose between her career and her safety.

However, she said this should not discourage other aspiring journalists.

“I would hate to see journalists working now to get discouraged and back out because they’re worried,” Sills said. “It’s totally valid to be worried and concerned, but I hope they follow their passion and get the truth out there. This is what journalism is about, being the voice for the voiceless.”

Roth knows there are still solid journalism organizations out there, true journalism is still going to champion.

To pursue this true reporting, Roth said there needs to be more transparency in reporting so people can regain trust. This includes how they did it, who they talked to and balance. 

“For students who are thinking about going into journalism, it is still a noble profession and it’s needed more than ever,” Roth said. “The old Thomas Jefferson line goes, ‘if I had to choose between having a government with no newspapers or newspapers with no government, I’d choose the newspapers.’”

Editor’s note: Professor Roth is The Cougar’s liaison advisor from the Valenti School of Communications. 

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“White House press access shakeup sparks First Amendment fears” was originally posted on The Cougar

Last week, Thursday March 20, the Students for Justice in Palestine HTX organized Popular University and protested at Student Center North in response to the recent arrests of activists Mahmoud Khalil and Leqaa Kordia. 

Khalil is a former student of University of Columbia, whereas Kordia is a current student at the same university.

The activists were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after playing significant roles in protests at the New York campus. The Houston Chronicle also covered the event.

“These kinds of arbitrary arrests will happen on this campus because we are in the South, under a Republican governor,” said political science junior and SJP member Joe Baker. “Our entire administration is massively zionist and republican and will not protect their students from I.C.E.”

Baker believes that the protesters did not commit any crimes and the arrests were made in an attempt to deport them. 

“The Republicans are going to use any tactic under their belt to suppress the Palestinian movement,” Baker said.

The organization finds a common theme in repression from the University. They ask for leadership and community instead.

This call for justice from SJP does not end at Khalil and Kordia, but for all students. They know there are many students at risk from I.C.E., so this fight is for everyone. 

“It’s very important we hold our University accountable. They are running the forefront of our education,” said computer science junior Maryam El-Rasheedy. 

Other than the release of the activists from the custody of I.C.E, SJP had two more demands. 

They want the University divest from weapon manufacturers and companies complicit in Israel’s occupation and genocide of the Palestinians, and to establish itself as a sanctuary from I.C.E.

“I hope more students are aware that detentions are unlawful. We need to know more about them and know this could happen to any of us,” El-Rasheedy said.

Blocked Stairs

The original plan for the Popular University was to organize a sit-in at the stairs at the Student Center South. 

However, upon entering the SC South, the stairs were blocked off and a sign was posted.

“This area is closed until the NCAA Tournament: UH vs SIU Edwardsville. Starts at 1:00 P.M,” the notice stated. 

However, the restriction of the stairs is a regular occurrence for the basketball games, said Director of Media Relation Bryan Luhnin in an email to the Cougar.

“For the past few years, the stairs at the Student Center South have been closed prior to the start of the UH men’s basketball NCAA Tournament games to reserve them for the watch party,” Luhn said. “There were similar closures for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. These closures were communicated via signage in the SC South.”

There were many complaints and frustrations from SJP, who stated they were not informed about the restriction. Baker believes that this was not a coincidence. 

Other SJP members found this act as a compliment to the organization’s strength. An SJP member stated it proves how much power the organization holds.

“I find it empowering, primarily because it shows they are scared of any existence of SJP,” the member said. “The University finds fear in people being aware that they are directly funding genocide.”

Members firmly believe that they are simply students of UH, sitting peacefully and coming together for something they feel is right. 

“That was such a cheap play,” said political science junior Cameron Corbin. “Even for President Khator, I wasn’t expecting her to go that low but she’s going lower and lower.”

Popular University

The SJP wanted to focus on the educational aspects for their cause. This included topics like the use of AI face detection during protests, the Palestinian experience and reading from the book, Salt Houses. 

An SJP member said that the media is shifting so many things. These teachings are meant to make their presence known and iron out the twisted narratives. 

“We’re using the book club as a vehicle to discuss, and for people to not only experience solidarity, but to feel heard and connected,” said an SJP member. “We’re doing this as a means to empower students and help reclaim identities within diasporas as a whole.”

The organization believes that the conversations about political prisoners and fellow activists is vital. However, they find it hard to clearly communicate these goals because of preconceived notions. 

People take SJP as an idealist, radical organization that doesn’t have any foundation. These sit-ins are for fun, to make friends and is a great way to be introduced into activism, said an SJP member.

“Every single thing we do is directly done to help push for very specific goals,” the member said. “We are very strategic, and we try to do everything we do with purpose.”

Protest

During the end of the Popular University, the group traveled to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Paul Kittle’s office and delivered letters of demands. 

They were then asked to move outside by police after chanting inside. 

The protesters moved to the flag poles outside SC North, where they stood with Palestinian flags. They restated their demands and asked students to not be afraid to speak out against genocide. 

“Based on today’s interactions, I felt like it was very peaceful and positive for the most part,” said UH alum and legal observer Sara Milene Geiger. “It’s definitely coming across that the University doesn’t want SJP to be vocal.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Popular University: SJP demands for release of activists, UH to protect students from ICE” was originally posted on The Cougar

Last week, Thursday March 20, the Students for Justice in Palestine HTX organized Popular University and protested at Student Center North in response to the recent arrests of activists Mahmoud Khalil and Leqaa Kordia. 

Khalil is a former student of University of Columbia, whereas Kordia is a current student at the same university.

The activists were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after playing significant roles in protests at the New York campus. The Houston Chronicle also covered the event.

“These kinds of arbitrary arrests will happen on this campus because we are in the South, under a Republican governor,” said political science junior and SJP member Joe Baker. “Our entire administration is massively zionist and republican and will not protect their students from I.C.E.”

Baker believes that the protesters did not commit any crimes and the arrests were made in an attempt to deport them. 

“The Republicans are going to use any tactic under their belt to suppress the Palestinian movement,” Baker said.

The organization finds a common theme in repression from the University. They ask for leadership and community instead.

This call for justice from SJP does not end at Khalil and Kordia, but for all students. They know there are many students at risk from I.C.E., so this fight is for everyone. 

“It’s very important we hold our University accountable. They are running the forefront of our education,” said computer science junior Maryam El-Rasheedy. 

Other than the release of the activists from the custody of I.C.E, SJP had two more demands. 

They want the University divest from weapon manufacturers and companies complicit in Israel’s occupation and genocide of the Palestinians, and to establish itself as a sanctuary from I.C.E.

“I hope more students are aware that detentions are unlawful. We need to know more about them and know this could happen to any of us,” El-Rasheedy said.

Blocked Stairs

The original plan for the Popular University was to organize a sit-in at the stairs at the Student Center South. 

However, upon entering the SC South, the stairs were blocked off and a sign was posted.

“This area is closed until the NCAA Tournament: UH vs SIU Edwardsville. Starts at 1:00 P.M,” the notice stated. 

However, the restriction of the stairs is a regular occurrence for the basketball games, said Director of Media Relation Bryan Luhnin in an email to the Cougar.

“For the past few years, the stairs at the Student Center South have been closed prior to the start of the UH men’s basketball NCAA Tournament games to reserve them for the watch party,” Luhn said. “There were similar closures for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. These closures were communicated via signage in the SC South.”

There were many complaints and frustrations from SJP, who stated they were not informed about the restriction. Baker believes that this was not a coincidence. 

Other SJP members found this act as a compliment to the organization’s strength. An SJP member stated it proves how much power the organization holds.

“I find it empowering, primarily because it shows they are scared of any existence of SJP,” the member said. “The University finds fear in people being aware that they are directly funding genocide.”

Members firmly believe that they are simply students of UH, sitting peacefully and coming together for something they feel is right. 

“That was such a cheap play,” said political science junior Cameron Corbin. “Even for President Khator, I wasn’t expecting her to go that low but she’s going lower and lower.”

Popular University

The SJP wanted to focus on the educational aspects for their cause. This included topics like the use of AI face detection during protests, the Palestinian experience and reading from the book, Salt Houses. 

An SJP member said that the media is shifting so many things. These teachings are meant to make their presence known and iron out the twisted narratives. 

“We’re using the book club as a vehicle to discuss, and for people to not only experience solidarity, but to feel heard and connected,” said an SJP member. “We’re doing this as a means to empower students and help reclaim identities within diasporas as a whole.”

The organization believes that the conversations about political prisoners and fellow activists is vital. However, they find it hard to clearly communicate these goals because of preconceived notions. 

People take SJP as an idealist, radical organization that doesn’t have any foundation. These sit-ins are for fun, to make friends and is a great way to be introduced into activism, said an SJP member.

“Every single thing we do is directly done to help push for very specific goals,” the member said. “We are very strategic, and we try to do everything we do with purpose.”

Protest

During the end of the Popular University, the group traveled to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Paul Kittle’s office and delivered letters of demands. 

They were then asked to move outside by police after chanting inside. 

The protesters moved to the flag poles outside SC North, where they stood with Palestinian flags. They restated their demands and asked students to not be afraid to speak out against genocide. 

“Based on today’s interactions, I felt like it was very peaceful and positive for the most part,” said UH alum and legal observer Sara Milene Geiger. “It’s definitely coming across that the University doesn’t want SJP to be vocal.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Popular University: SJP demands for release of activists, UH to protect students from ICE” was originally posted on The Cougar

Last week, Thursday March 20, the Students for Justice in Palestine HTX organized Popular University and protested at Student Center North in response to the recent arrests of activists Mahmoud Khalil and Leqaa Kordia. 

Khalil is a former student of University of Columbia, whereas Kordia is a current student at the same university.

The activists were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after playing significant roles in protests at the New York campus. The Houston Chronicle also covered the event.

“These kinds of arbitrary arrests will happen on this campus because we are in the South, under a Republican governor,” said political science junior and SJP member Joe Baker. “Our entire administration is massively zionist and republican and will not protect their students from I.C.E.”

Baker believes that the protesters did not commit any crimes and the arrests were made in an attempt to deport them. 

“The Republicans are going to use any tactic under their belt to suppress the Palestinian movement,” Baker said.

The organization finds a common theme in repression from the University. They ask for leadership and community instead.

This call for justice from SJP does not end at Khalil and Kordia, but for all students. They know there are many students at risk from I.C.E., so this fight is for everyone. 

“It’s very important we hold our University accountable. They are running the forefront of our education,” said computer science junior Maryam El-Rasheedy. 

Other than the release of the activists from the custody of I.C.E, SJP had two more demands. 

They want the University divest from weapon manufacturers and companies complicit in Israel’s occupation and genocide of the Palestinians, and to establish itself as a sanctuary from I.C.E.

“I hope more students are aware that detentions are unlawful. We need to know more about them and know this could happen to any of us,” El-Rasheedy said.

Blocked Stairs

The original plan for the Popular University was to organize a sit-in at the stairs at the Student Center South. 

However, upon entering the SC South, the stairs were blocked off and a sign was posted.

“This area is closed until the NCAA Tournament: UH vs SIU Edwardsville. Starts at 1:00 P.M,” the notice stated. 

However, the restriction of the stairs is a regular occurrence for the basketball games, said Director of Media Relation Bryan Luhnin in an email to the Cougar.

“For the past few years, the stairs at the Student Center South have been closed prior to the start of the UH men’s basketball NCAA Tournament games to reserve them for the watch party,” Luhn said. “There were similar closures for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. These closures were communicated via signage in the SC South.”

There were many complaints and frustrations from SJP, who stated they were not informed about the restriction. Baker believes that this was not a coincidence. 

Other SJP members found this act as a compliment to the organization’s strength. An SJP member stated it proves how much power the organization holds.

“I find it empowering, primarily because it shows they are scared of any existence of SJP,” the member said. “The University finds fear in people being aware that they are directly funding genocide.”

Members firmly believe that they are simply students of UH, sitting peacefully and coming together for something they feel is right. 

“That was such a cheap play,” said political science junior Cameron Corbin. “Even for President Khator, I wasn’t expecting her to go that low but she’s going lower and lower.”

Popular University

The SJP wanted to focus on the educational aspects for their cause. This included topics like the use of AI face detection during protests, the Palestinian experience and reading from the book, Salt Houses. 

An SJP member said that the media is shifting so many things. These teachings are meant to make their presence known and iron out the twisted narratives. 

“We’re using the book club as a vehicle to discuss, and for people to not only experience solidarity, but to feel heard and connected,” said an SJP member. “We’re doing this as a means to empower students and help reclaim identities within diasporas as a whole.”

The organization believes that the conversations about political prisoners and fellow activists is vital. However, they find it hard to clearly communicate these goals because of preconceived notions. 

People take SJP as an idealist, radical organization that doesn’t have any foundation. These sit-ins are for fun, to make friends and is a great way to be introduced into activism, said an SJP member.

“Every single thing we do is directly done to help push for very specific goals,” the member said. “We are very strategic, and we try to do everything we do with purpose.”

Protest

During the end of the Popular University, the group traveled to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Paul Kittle’s office and delivered letters of demands. 

They were then asked to move outside by police after chanting inside. 

The protesters moved to the flag poles outside SC North, where they stood with Palestinian flags. They restated their demands and asked students to not be afraid to speak out against genocide. 

“Based on today’s interactions, I felt like it was very peaceful and positive for the most part,” said UH alum and legal observer Sara Milene Geiger. “It’s definitely coming across that the University doesn’t want SJP to be vocal.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Popular University: SJP demands for release of activists, UH to protect students from ICE” was originally posted on The Cougar

Last week, Thursday March 20, the Students for Justice in Palestine HTX organized Popular University and protested at Student Center North in response to the recent arrests of activists Mahmoud Khalil and Leqaa Kordia. 

Khalil is a former student of University of Columbia, whereas Kordia is a current student at the same university.

The activists were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after playing significant roles in protests at the New York campus. The Houston Chronicle also covered the event.

“These kinds of arbitrary arrests will happen on this campus because we are in the South, under a Republican governor,” said political science junior and SJP member Joe Baker. “Our entire administration is massively zionist and republican and will not protect their students from I.C.E.”

Baker believes that the protesters did not commit any crimes and the arrests were made in an attempt to deport them. 

“The Republicans are going to use any tactic under their belt to suppress the Palestinian movement,” Baker said.

The organization finds a common theme in repression from the University. They ask for leadership and community instead.

This call for justice from SJP does not end at Khalil and Kordia, but for all students. They know there are many students at risk from I.C.E., so this fight is for everyone. 

“It’s very important we hold our University accountable. They are running the forefront of our education,” said computer science junior Maryam El-Rasheedy. 

Other than the release of the activists from the custody of I.C.E, SJP had two more demands. 

They want the University divest from weapon manufacturers and companies complicit in Israel’s occupation and genocide of the Palestinians, and to establish itself as a sanctuary from I.C.E.

“I hope more students are aware that detentions are unlawful. We need to know more about them and know this could happen to any of us,” El-Rasheedy said.

Blocked Stairs

The original plan for the Popular University was to organize a sit-in at the stairs at the Student Center South. 

However, upon entering the SC South, the stairs were blocked off and a sign was posted.

“This area is closed until the NCAA Tournament: UH vs SIU Edwardsville. Starts at 1:00 P.M,” the notice stated. 

However, the restriction of the stairs is a regular occurrence for the basketball games, said Director of Media Relation Bryan Luhnin in an email to the Cougar.

“For the past few years, the stairs at the Student Center South have been closed prior to the start of the UH men’s basketball NCAA Tournament games to reserve them for the watch party,” Luhn said. “There were similar closures for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. These closures were communicated via signage in the SC South.”

There were many complaints and frustrations from SJP, who stated they were not informed about the restriction. Baker believes that this was not a coincidence. 

Other SJP members found this act as a compliment to the organization’s strength. An SJP member stated it proves how much power the organization holds.

“I find it empowering, primarily because it shows they are scared of any existence of SJP,” the member said. “The University finds fear in people being aware that they are directly funding genocide.”

Members firmly believe that they are simply students of UH, sitting peacefully and coming together for something they feel is right. 

“That was such a cheap play,” said political science junior Cameron Corbin. “Even for President Khator, I wasn’t expecting her to go that low but she’s going lower and lower.”

Popular University

The SJP wanted to focus on the educational aspects for their cause. This included topics like the use of AI face detection during protests, the Palestinian experience and reading from the book, Salt Houses. 

An SJP member said that the media is shifting so many things. These teachings are meant to make their presence known and iron out the twisted narratives. 

“We’re using the book club as a vehicle to discuss, and for people to not only experience solidarity, but to feel heard and connected,” said an SJP member. “We’re doing this as a means to empower students and help reclaim identities within diasporas as a whole.”

The organization believes that the conversations about political prisoners and fellow activists is vital. However, they find it hard to clearly communicate these goals because of preconceived notions. 

People take SJP as an idealist, radical organization that doesn’t have any foundation. These sit-ins are for fun, to make friends and is a great way to be introduced into activism, said an SJP member.

“Every single thing we do is directly done to help push for very specific goals,” the member said. “We are very strategic, and we try to do everything we do with purpose.”

Protest

During the end of the Popular University, the group traveled to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Paul Kittle’s office and delivered letters of demands. 

They were then asked to move outside by police after chanting inside. 

The protesters moved to the flag poles outside SC North, where they stood with Palestinian flags. They restated their demands and asked students to not be afraid to speak out against genocide. 

“Based on today’s interactions, I felt like it was very peaceful and positive for the most part,” said UH alum and legal observer Sara Milene Geiger. “It’s definitely coming across that the University doesn’t want SJP to be vocal.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Popular University: SJP demands for release of activists, UH to protect students from ICE” was originally posted on The Cougar

Last week, Thursday March 20, the Students for Justice in Palestine HTX organized Popular University and protested at Student Center North in response to the recent arrests of activists Mahmoud Khalil and Leqaa Kordia. 

Khalil is a former student of University of Columbia, whereas Kordia is a current student at the same university.

The activists were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after playing significant roles in protests at the New York campus. The Houston Chronicle also covered the event.

“These kinds of arbitrary arrests will happen on this campus because we are in the South, under a Republican governor,” said political science junior and SJP member Joe Baker. “Our entire administration is massively zionist and republican and will not protect their students from I.C.E.”

Baker believes that the protesters did not commit any crimes and the arrests were made in an attempt to deport them. 

“The Republicans are going to use any tactic under their belt to suppress the Palestinian movement,” Baker said.

The organization finds a common theme in repression from the University. They ask for leadership and community instead.

This call for justice from SJP does not end at Khalil and Kordia, but for all students. They know there are many students at risk from I.C.E., so this fight is for everyone. 

“It’s very important we hold our University accountable. They are running the forefront of our education,” said computer science junior Maryam El-Rasheedy. 

Other than the release of the activists from the custody of I.C.E, SJP had two more demands. 

They want the University divest from weapon manufacturers and companies complicit in Israel’s occupation and genocide of the Palestinians, and to establish itself as a sanctuary from I.C.E.

“I hope more students are aware that detentions are unlawful. We need to know more about them and know this could happen to any of us,” El-Rasheedy said.

Blocked Stairs

The original plan for the Popular University was to organize a sit-in at the stairs at the Student Center South. 

However, upon entering the SC South, the stairs were blocked off and a sign was posted.

“This area is closed until the NCAA Tournament: UH vs SIU Edwardsville. Starts at 1:00 P.M,” the notice stated. 

However, the restriction of the stairs is a regular occurrence for the basketball games, said Director of Media Relation Bryan Luhnin in an email to the Cougar.

“For the past few years, the stairs at the Student Center South have been closed prior to the start of the UH men’s basketball NCAA Tournament games to reserve them for the watch party,” Luhn said. “There were similar closures for the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament. These closures were communicated via signage in the SC South.”

There were many complaints and frustrations from SJP, who stated they were not informed about the restriction. Baker believes that this was not a coincidence. 

Other SJP members found this act as a compliment to the organization’s strength. An SJP member stated it proves how much power the organization holds.

“I find it empowering, primarily because it shows they are scared of any existence of SJP,” the member said. “The University finds fear in people being aware that they are directly funding genocide.”

Members firmly believe that they are simply students of UH, sitting peacefully and coming together for something they feel is right. 

“That was such a cheap play,” said political science junior Cameron Corbin. “Even for President Khator, I wasn’t expecting her to go that low but she’s going lower and lower.”

Popular University

The SJP wanted to focus on the educational aspects for their cause. This included topics like the use of AI face detection during protests, the Palestinian experience and reading from the book, Salt Houses. 

An SJP member said that the media is shifting so many things. These teachings are meant to make their presence known and iron out the twisted narratives. 

“We’re using the book club as a vehicle to discuss, and for people to not only experience solidarity, but to feel heard and connected,” said an SJP member. “We’re doing this as a means to empower students and help reclaim identities within diasporas as a whole.”

The organization believes that the conversations about political prisoners and fellow activists is vital. However, they find it hard to clearly communicate these goals because of preconceived notions. 

People take SJP as an idealist, radical organization that doesn’t have any foundation. These sit-ins are for fun, to make friends and is a great way to be introduced into activism, said an SJP member.

“Every single thing we do is directly done to help push for very specific goals,” the member said. “We are very strategic, and we try to do everything we do with purpose.”

Protest

During the end of the Popular University, the group traveled to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Paul Kittle’s office and delivered letters of demands. 

They were then asked to move outside by police after chanting inside. 

The protesters moved to the flag poles outside SC North, where they stood with Palestinian flags. They restated their demands and asked students to not be afraid to speak out against genocide. 

“Based on today’s interactions, I felt like it was very peaceful and positive for the most part,” said UH alum and legal observer Sara Milene Geiger. “It’s definitely coming across that the University doesn’t want SJP to be vocal.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Popular University: SJP demands for release of activists, UH to protect students from ICE” was originally posted on The Cougar